Can you guys help me? I was searching the net and found this great website. I was in the Florida Keys last year on holiday and my dad bought a LiquidLogic Kayak.

I am doing a research project at the moment and need to find out about the Kayak Market. I need to find out the following:-

1) Number of people that participate in Kayaking:-

USA
Europe
United Kingdom

2) What are the main brands for Kayaks in the United States and Europe?

From spending some time reading your forum it seems there are two markets the Sports Kayak and then the general market. Is there a big difference in the quality of the gear and price?

3) How many canoe shops in the United States sell Kayaks and in Europe?

4) How big are the main players in terms of market size and turnover?

5) Who are the main players that make accessories?

I am trying to write a report on market size and if this is an expanding or decreasing market. Any help is appreciated as the members here seem to know the sport inside out. For me living in the United Kingdom any information would really help me in this task.

At the moment I am sitting here not fully knowing where to start. HELP PLEASE! I

Richard

PS: If there is a problem with this post with questions please pm me.

It's an expending market, definately, but that's about as much as I know...

I only have limited knowledge, but here's my thoughts anyhoo:

1) The info for numbers can be obtained from the BCU for the UK, but I'm not sure about the US or Europe. I've seen the figure before for the UK, so its definately out there.

2) I'd say the brands would be very similar. Just because a brand is made in the States doesn't mean it isn't popular here - take Jackson for instance - every other playboat is a JK Star. However, I'm not sure this works both ways, as Pyranha are very much a UK company...

Some kayaking companies include - Robson (german), Liquid Logic (US), Jackson (US), Dagger (EU?), Pyranha (UK), Prijon (EU), Eskimo (German?), Necky, Perception, Wavesport, Riot...

As regards the two markets, I think you've really got to consider the differences in types of kayaking. After spending my holiday in Cornwall I noticed there has been a massive surge of people buying sit-on-top kayaks and taking them out in the surf. It seems like an easy entry point into the kayaking community, as you can basically walk into a shop not knowing anything about kayaking, and come out with everything you need to start. Playboating, or creeking, on the other hand require a certain knowledge of the sport and the necessary equipment required to succeed (e.g. bouyancy, suitable helmets/padding, outfitting - not to mention a grasp of the basic techniques), thus they are not as simple as other lines of kayaking. Then of course there is polo, slalom, marathon kayaks etc etc. Totally different niche markets within the broad umbrella of 'kayaking'.

3) Gotta be careful with this one, as you need to think proportionately to population size. I also doubt that anyone would know this without research... but hey, someone might suprise you.

4) Email some companies such as pyranha (more UK based) and Jackson (US based)... I'm sure they'd be happy to help out.

5) This is a bit easier, as they tend to be slightly different from the kayak manufacturers. Some names to look up are Nookie, Palm, Peakuk, Newton (BAs), Playboater, Yak, Sweet (helmets), Protec (helmets), Werner (paddles), Robson (paddles), Carlisle (paddles)... list goes on. A good idea might be to go on a shop website, such as Kayaks and Paddles, or Brookbank, and go through their product lists.

Most of this info can be found by searching manufacturers sites, or getting in contact with them directly. Although I can't really speak for the US or Europe, I hope I've given you a good starting point to build on!! You've definately got some work ahead of you! Let us know how you get on.

Matt

I wanted to say thank you for your comments. I decided to post on here as the good things with forums is one normally start getting unbiased information. I have a hobby forum myself nothing to do with Kayaks with 63,000 members. I put this on here due to you guys have 19,000 members as what you guys collectively do not know is not worth knowing.

If not I am hoping to be pointed in the right direction.

The UK market I imagine is quite small as I have worked out there are about 50 main Kayak dealers. Going to the states and the shop where we bought our first Kayak was like going into another world. What I did notice was the difference in prices of Kayaks as pounds are converted to dollars for goods in the UK. In terms of types of Kayaking this is one of the reasons I posted as sport kayaking, fishing kayaking and recreation kayaking are three areas I have found.

The price of clothing seems expensive too in this market. Often what is popular in one country might be different what seems common is brands of Kayak...

For Europe
Check out the ICU (irish canoe union) that will give you a good bit of info on ireland anyways.
From what ive seen some of the moct popular gear and boats here, are jackson kayaks, wavesport , and pyranha
Double dutch, Palm, Sweet strutter, pro tec and a few others. Quite similar to the UK.
Check out this website
www.i-canoe.com/

It has the most popular stuff in Ireland.]
Also at the left hand bottom corner of the screen it gives you the list of brands they sell.

Also email kayaks manufacturers and gear manufacturers and see will they tell you how many kayaks they distirbute to each country every year etc...

Hope this helps
Sarah